Portable IR Thermometer Having USB-HID Interface

Abstract

A portable noncontact thermometer comprising a hand-held housing defining an aperture for ingress of incident thermal energy from a target location. A thermometer module including a noncontact thermal energy detector is also provided. The thermometer module further includes at least one microcontroller operative to interpret electrical signals derived from an output of the noncontact thermal energy detector so as to determine temperature at the target location. A USB-HID communication interface is operative to permit electrical communication between the microcontroller(s) and a remote computer. A display device, fixed with respect to the housing, is also provided.

1 . A portable noncontact thermometer comprising:
 a hand-held housing defining an aperture for ingress of incident thermal energy from a target location;   a thermometer module including a noncontact thermal energy detector;   said thermometer module further including at least one microcontroller operative to interpret electrical signals derived from an output of said noncontact thermal energy detector so as to determine temperature at said target location;   a USB-HID communication interface operative to permit electrical communication between said at least one microcontroller and a remote computer; and   a display device fixed with respect to said housing.   
   
   
       2 . A portable noncontact thermometer as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said communication interface is capable of downloading information from said at least one microcontroller and uploading information to said at least one microcontroller. 
   
   
       3 . A portable noncontact thermometer as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said communication interface permits reprogramming of said at least one microcontroller. 
   
   
       4 . A portable noncontact thermometer as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said at least one microcontroller comprises a main microcontroller and an ADC microcontroller in communication with each other. 
   
   
       5 . A portable noncontact thermometer as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said ADC microcontroller is reprogrammed via main microcontroller. 
   
   
       6 . A portable noncontact thermometer as set forth in  claim 1 , comprising a mini-USB port located on said housing, said mini-USB port being electrically connected to said communication interface. 
   
   
       7 . A system comprising:
 a portable noncontact thermometer having a USB-HID communication interface, said communication interface being operative to convert in and out reports pursuant to HID protocol; and   a remote computer having an operating system running a USB-HID driver so as to communicate with said thermometer via said communication interface.   
   
   
       8 . A system as set forth in  claim 7 , further comprising software running on said computer for downloading temperature information from said noncontact thermometer to said computer. 
   
   
       9 . A system as set forth in  claim 7 , further comprising software running on said computer for uploading emissivity data from said computer to said noncontact thermometer. 
   
   
       10 . A system as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein said communication interface of said noncontact thermometer is operative to communicate with said remote computer via a wired connection.